Fence-machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

A. J. NBPF.

FENCE MACHINE.

ed Oct.

Pat

N PETERS. Photo-Lnhogmpher, wahin wmlla (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. J NEPP.

FENCE MACHINE.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFIGEO ABRAHAM JONAS NEFF, OF FISH LAKE, ASSIGNOR OF TlVO-THlR-DS TO AMOS E. SOHROOK, OF GOSHEN, INDIANA.

FENCE-MACHINE.

5PECIFICATION forming part oi Letters Pat-ant No. 390,309, dated October 2, 1888.

Serial No. 290,389. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that LABRAHAM JONAS Nnlu ga citizen of the United States, residing at Fish Lake, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Iniprovemcnt in Fence-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in fence-machines; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fence-machine embodying my improvements, showingthe same in position for twisting the wires between the pickets of a fence. Fig. 2 is aplan view, partly in section, of my improvedtwistingmachine. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same taken on the liners 0c of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the tension device. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same.

A represents a case or frame, which coinprises the pair of boards B O, separated at their upper and lower ends by blocks 1) Erespectively, the said. blocks being secured between the said boards by means of bolts or screws F. In the said boards, at suitable distances apart, are openings G, H, and I. The openings G, which are nearest the bottom of the case, are circular, and the openings H I are vertically elongated, as shown.

K represents bridge-plates, which are an ranged across the said openings, and have ears L, which are secured to the boards or sides of the case by bolts or screws, as shown. The said bridge plates are provided with circular openings M, and in the said openings are journalcd revoluble hollow cylindrical twistingsleeves N, the ends of which are open. The central portions of the said sleeves,which are between the pairs of bridge-plates K, are provided with spur-pinions O.

P represents twisting caps or heads, which are cylindrical in shape, as shown, are fitted on one end of each revoluble sleeve, and are secured thereto by means of transverse pins R, which extend through said caps or heads and through the said sleeves. The said caps or heads are provided on their outer sides with transverse ears S, between which are arranged and journaled pairs of antifriction rollers T, which are provided with peripheral grooves. The said caps or twisting heads project from the rear side of the case.

U represents a vertically-movable rackbar, which is guided in grooves V in the opposing sides of the case near one edge thereof, said rack-bar having teeth W on its inner side, which engage the pinions O, and being provided on its outer side with rack-teeth X, which are engaged by a sector, Y, which is journaled between ears or brackets Z, that project from one side of the case. The said sector has an outwardlyextending handlever, A, by means of which it may be oscillated so as to cause the rack-bar to reciprocate, and thereby cause the twistingsleeves to be rotated simultaneously and at the same rate of speed, first in one direction and then in the contrary direction.

B represents a pair of downwardly-curved arms, which are arranged at the bottom of the case and project beyond the front and rear sides thereof, and between the said arms are journaled supporting-rollers C, which are adapted to guide the twisting-machine over the ground in line with the fence in the usual manner, On the front of the case is secured a yoke or bail, D, which is curved outward, as shown, and constitutes a handle, by means of which the operator may move the twistingmachine along the fence.

15 represents a vertical post, which is pro vided at its lower end with a supporting-base or crossbar, F, by means of which the post may be maintained in a vertical position when placed on the ground at one end of the proposed line of fence. A suitable anchoring device is employed to secure the said post in this position.

On the inner side of the post, at suitable distances apart, are secured a series of transverse horizontal plates, G, to correspond in number with the twisting'sleeves, and are each provided with arms or brackets H. Journaled in the said ears or brackets are shafts or winches I, each of which is provided at one end with asquared stud, K, adapted to be on gaged by a crank-handle, L, and is further provided with a friction-wheel, M.

N represents friction-straps, which are pivoted at one end to one of the ears H, pass rearward over the friction-wheels, and have their inner free ends-secured by adj llSlilIlg-SCIGWS O, which engage the studs P,that project outward from said ears. By turning the said screws the straps may be caused to bear with any desired degree of compression on the friction-wheels M, and the tension of the fence-wires a, which are secured to and partly coiled on the shafts or winches I, may be thereby readily regulated. Said wires are stretched in pairs along the proposed fenceline, pass through the twisting-sleeves and on the outer sides of the anti-friction rollers in the twisting heads, whereby said pairs of wires are separated on the rear sides of the twisting-machine. The pickets are inserted one after another between the said pairs of wires,'and after each picket is thus inserted the lever A is operated, so as to impartlongitudinal motion to the rack-bar and thereby cause the tw-isters to rotate and twist the wires behind the pickets, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my claim- 1. The combination, in a fence-machine, of the case having the openings, the bridge plates over the said openings, the revoluble cylindrical sleeves journaled in said bridge-plates and having the integral pinions 0 between the sides of the case, the cylindrical twisting caps or heads fitted on one end of each sleeve and invention, I

detachably secured thereto, said heads having the transverse ears S, and the anti-friction grooved rollers T journaled between the same, the reciprocating rack-bar engaging the pinions,andthehandlehavingthespurred segment engaging and operating the rack-bar, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the case having the openings, of the bridge-plates over said openings, the revoluble cylindrical sleeves journaled in the bridgeplates, the cylindrical twisting caps or heads detachably fitted on the ends of the sleeves and having the transverse ears, and the pairs of anti-friction rollers mounted therein, and means, substantially as described, to rotate the sleeves.

3. The combination, of the transverse plate G, having the arms H, one of which is provided with the stud P, the winch journaled in the arms, the friction-wheel M, secured to said winch, the strap N, pivoted at its outer end and bearing on the friction-Wheel, and the adjustingscrew 0, connected to the free end of the strap and engaging a threaded opening in the stud, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoingas my own 1 have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ABRAHAM JONAS NEFF.

WVitnesses:

WILLIAM F. PENCE, JOSEPH E. HINE. 

